The ruling on one who commits a sin for which a fixed punishment is prescribed while ignorant of its ruling

Question:
Our brother is asking about committing a sin while ignorant of its ruling: is the fixed punishment dropped or not?

Answer:
This varies: if it is something known among the Muslims, and ignorance of it is rare because the person is among the Muslims, then the fixed punishment is not dropped, and his claim is not accepted: "I did not know that unlawful sexual intercourse is forbidden," or "I did not know that intoxicants are forbidden." Because this is well-known among the Muslims, so his claim is not accepted that he is ignorant; rather, the fixed punishment is carried out against him.
As for if he is in a place far from the Muslims, in forests far from the Muslims, in remote areas where they do not know the rulings of Islam, then the fixed punishment is not carried out against him until he is informed and it is explained to him. If he returns to them after that, the fixed punishment is carried out against him.
So the point is: the matter varies. The person who is among the Muslims, to whom the Shari'ah of Allah is conveyed, and who knows that this is forbidden among the Muslims, is not excused by his claim of ignorance. Because this is widespread and prevalent among the Muslims and well-known. So the prohibition of unlawful sexual intercourse, the prohibition of drinking intoxicants, the prohibition of sodomy, the prohibition of undutifulness to parents, cutting off family ties, and the like of that.
As for the one who lived in a pre-Islamic age of ignorance far from Islam, far from the Muslims, in the remote areas of Africa and the remote areas of America, meaning: in a place far from knowing the rulings of Allah, then he is informed, yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.